fix(codex): provision dummy user auth state

README.md

@@ -369,13 +369,15 @@ egress:
 ```
 
 Run `codex login --device-auth` on the host before launch. The
-launcher reads only `tokens.access_token` from the host's
+launcher reads `tokens.access_token` from the host's
-`~/.codex/auth.json`, verifies it is fresh ChatGPT auth, and passes it
+`~/.codex/auth.json`, verifies it is fresh user/device auth, and passes
-to the sidecar's `EGRESS_TOKEN_N` env slot. The agent container does
+it to the sidecar's `EGRESS_TOKEN_N` env slot. The agent container gets
-not receive `auth.json`, refresh tokens, access-token env vars, or
+a dummy `~/.codex/auth.json` that preserves the host auth-mode shape
-`OPENAI_API_KEY`. The effective egress table automatically adds or
+but replaces credential values with placeholders, so Codex chooses the
-upgrades `api.openai.com` and `chatgpt.com` to authenticated routes
+user/device auth path without receiving real access tokens, refresh
-when `forward_host_credentials` is true.
+tokens, or `OPENAI_API_KEY`. The effective egress table automatically
+adds or upgrades `api.openai.com` and `chatgpt.com` to authenticated
+routes when `forward_host_credentials` is true.
 
 The built-in Codex template uses `Dockerfile.codex`; set
 `agent_provider.dockerfile` to build the agent from a custom Dockerfile

bot_bottle/backend/__init__.py

@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ class BottleBackend(ABC, Generic[PlanT, CleanupT]):
         intercepted without per-tool reconfiguration."""
         self.provision_ca(plan, target)
         prompt_path = self.provision_prompt(plan, target)
+        self.provision_provider_auth(plan, target)
         self.provision_skills(plan, target)
         self.provision_git(plan, target)
         self.provision_supervise(plan, target)
@@ -300,6 +301,11 @@ class BottleBackend(ABC, Generic[PlanT, CleanupT]):
         backend overrides to docker-cp the cert in and run
         `update-ca-certificates`."""
 
+    def provision_provider_auth(self, plan: PlanT, target: str) -> None:
+        """Install non-secret provider auth marker files into the agent
+        home when a provider needs them to select the right auth mode.
+        The default is no-op."""
+
     @abstractmethod
     def provision_prompt(self, plan: PlanT, target: str) -> str | None:
         """Copy the prompt file into the running bottle. Returns the

bot_bottle/backend/docker/backend.py

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from .bottle_plan import DockerBottlePlan
 from .provision import ca as _ca
 from .provision import git as _git
 from .provision import prompt as _prompt
+from .provision import provider_auth as _provider_auth
 from .provision import skills as _skills
 from .provision import supervise as _supervise_prov
 
@@ -62,6 +63,9 @@ class DockerBottleBackend(BottleBackend["DockerBottlePlan", "DockerBottleCleanup
     def provision_prompt(self, plan: DockerBottlePlan, target: str) -> str | None:
         return _prompt.provision_prompt(plan, target)
 
+    def provision_provider_auth(self, plan: DockerBottlePlan, target: str) -> None:
+        _provider_auth.provision_provider_auth(plan, target)
+
     def provision_skills(self, plan: DockerBottlePlan, target: str) -> None:
         _skills.provision_skills(plan, target)
 

bot_bottle/backend/docker/bottle_plan.py

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class DockerBottlePlan(BottlePlan):
     agent_command: str = "claude"
     agent_prompt_mode: PromptMode = "append_file"
     agent_provider_template: str = "claude"
+    codex_auth_file: Path | None = None
 
     def print(self, *, remote_control: bool) -> None:
         """Render the y/N preflight summary to stderr — compact form

bot_bottle/backend/docker/prepare.py

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from ...agent_provider import runtime_for
+from ...codex_auth import write_codex_dummy_auth_file
 from ...egress import Egress
 from ...env import ResolvedEnv, resolve_env
 from ...git_gate import GitGate
@@ -155,6 +156,7 @@ def resolve_plan(
     agent_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     env_file = agent_dir / "agent.env"
     prompt_file = agent_dir / "prompt.txt"
+    codex_auth_file = agent_dir / "codex-auth.json"
     prompt_file.write_text("")
     prompt_file.chmod(0o600)
 
@@ -219,6 +221,8 @@ def resolve_plan(
         # error reporting) that egress can't gate by auth.
         forwarded_env.setdefault("CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC", "1")
         forwarded_env.setdefault("DISABLE_ERROR_REPORTING", "1")
+    if provider.forward_host_credentials:
+        write_codex_dummy_auth_file(codex_auth_file, dict(os.environ))
     _write_env_file(resolved, env_file)
     prompt_file.write_text(agent.prompt)
 
@@ -245,6 +249,7 @@ def resolve_plan(
         agent_command=provider_runtime.command,
         agent_prompt_mode=provider_runtime.prompt_mode,
         agent_provider_template=provider.template,
+        codex_auth_file=codex_auth_file if provider.forward_host_credentials else None,
     )
 
 

bot_bottle/backend/docker/provision/provider_auth.py

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+"""Provision non-secret provider auth markers into a Docker bottle."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+from ..bottle_plan import DockerBottlePlan
+
+
+def provision_provider_auth(plan: DockerBottlePlan, target: str) -> None:
+    """Copy a dummy Codex auth marker when host credentials are
+    forwarded through egress.
+
+    The file contains no real access or refresh token values; it only
+    nudges Codex into the same user/device auth branch as the host.
+    """
+    if not plan.codex_auth_file:
+        return
+    container_home = os.environ.get("BOT_BOTTLE_CONTAINER_HOME", "/home/node")
+    auth_dir = f"{container_home}/.codex"
+    auth_path = f"{auth_dir}/auth.json"
+
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["docker", "exec", "-u", "0", target, "mkdir", "-p", auth_dir],
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        check=True,
+    )
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["docker", "cp", str(plan.codex_auth_file), f"{target}:{auth_path}"],
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        check=True,
+    )
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["docker", "exec", "-u", "0", target, "chown", "node:node", auth_path],
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        check=True,
+    )
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["docker", "exec", "-u", "0", target, "chmod", "600", auth_path],
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        check=True,
+    )

bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/backend.py

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from .bottle_plan import SmolmachinesBottlePlan
 from .provision import ca as _ca
 from .provision import git as _git
 from .provision import prompt as _prompt
+from .provision import provider_auth as _provider_auth
 from .provision import skills as _skills
 from .provision import supervise as _supervise
 
@@ -61,6 +62,11 @@ class SmolmachinesBottleBackend(
     ) -> str | None:
         return _prompt.provision_prompt(plan, target)
 
+    def provision_provider_auth(
+        self, plan: SmolmachinesBottlePlan, target: str
+    ) -> None:
+        _provider_auth.provision_provider_auth(plan, target)
+
     def provision_skills(
         self, plan: SmolmachinesBottlePlan, target: str
     ) -> None:

bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/bottle_plan.py

@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ class SmolmachinesBottlePlan(BottlePlan):
     agent_prompt_mode: PromptMode = "append_file"
     agent_provider_template: str = "claude"
     agent_dockerfile_path: str = ""
+    codex_auth_file: Path | None = None
 
     def print(self, *, remote_control: bool) -> None:
         """Compact y/N preflight. Same shape as the Docker

bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/prepare.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from ...agent_provider import runtime_for
 from ...backend import BottleSpec
+from ...codex_auth import write_codex_dummy_auth_file
 from ...backend.docker.bottle_state import (
     BottleMetadata,
     agent_state_dir,
@@ -144,9 +145,12 @@ def resolve_plan(
     agent_dir = agent_state_dir(slug)
     agent_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     prompt_file = agent_dir / "prompt.txt"
+    codex_auth_file = agent_dir / "codex-auth.json"
     agent = manifest.agents[spec.agent_name]
     prompt_file.write_text(agent.prompt or "")
     prompt_file.chmod(0o600)
+    if provider.forward_host_credentials:
+        write_codex_dummy_auth_file(codex_auth_file, dict(os.environ))
 
     machine_name = f"bot-bottle-{slug}"
     # Stash the agent image ref — `launch.launch` runs the
@@ -182,6 +186,7 @@ def resolve_plan(
         agent_prompt_mode=provider_runtime.prompt_mode,
         agent_provider_template=provider.template,
         agent_dockerfile_path=agent_dockerfile_path,
+        codex_auth_file=codex_auth_file if provider.forward_host_credentials else None,
     )
 
 

bot_bottle/backend/smolmachines/provision/provider_auth.py

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""Provision non-secret provider auth markers into a smolmachines bottle."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+
+from .. import smolvm as _smolvm
+from ..bottle_plan import SmolmachinesBottlePlan
+
+
+_DEFAULT_GUEST_HOME = "/home/node"
+
+
+def provision_provider_auth(plan: SmolmachinesBottlePlan, target: str) -> None:
+    """Copy a dummy Codex auth marker when host credentials are
+    forwarded through egress.
+
+    The real host access token remains in the egress bundle env; this
+    file only selects Codex's user/device auth code path.
+    """
+    if not plan.codex_auth_file:
+        return
+    guest_home = os.environ.get("BOT_BOTTLE_GUEST_HOME", _DEFAULT_GUEST_HOME)
+    auth_dir = f"{guest_home}/.codex"
+    auth_path = f"{auth_dir}/auth.json"
+
+    _smolvm.machine_exec(target, ["mkdir", "-p", auth_dir])
+    _smolvm.machine_cp(str(plan.codex_auth_file), f"{target}:{auth_path}")
+    _smolvm.machine_exec(target, ["chown", "node:node", auth_path])
+    _smolvm.machine_exec(target, ["chmod", "600", auth_path])

bot_bottle/codex_auth.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import base64
 import json
 import os
+from copy import deepcopy
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -37,16 +38,12 @@ def codex_host_access_token(
             "Run `codex login --device-auth` on the host or disable "
             "agent_provider.forward_host_credentials."
         )
-    try:
+    raw = _read_auth_object(path)
-        raw = json.loads(path.read_text())
-    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError) as e:
-        die(f"codex host credentials: could not read valid JSON at {path}: {e}")
-    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
-        die(f"codex host credentials: {path} must contain a JSON object")
 
-    if raw.get("auth_mode") != "chatgpt":
+    auth_mode = raw.get("auth_mode")
+    if not isinstance(auth_mode, str) or auth_mode == "api_key":
         die(
-            "codex host credentials: host Codex auth is not ChatGPT/device "
+            "codex host credentials: host Codex auth is not user/device "
             "auth. Run `codex login --device-auth` on the host."
         )
 
@@ -72,6 +69,79 @@ def codex_host_access_token(
     return access
 
 
+def codex_dummy_auth_json(
+    host_env: dict[str, str] | None = None,
+    *,
+    now: datetime | None = None,
+) -> str:
+    """Return a non-secret `auth.json` that keeps Codex in the host's
+    auth branch while egress owns the real bearer token."""
+    path = codex_auth_path(host_env)
+    codex_host_access_token(host_env, now=now)
+    raw = _read_auth_object(path)
+    dummy = _redact_codex_auth(deepcopy(raw), now=now)
+    return json.dumps(dummy, indent=2, sort_keys=True) + "\n"
+
+
+def write_codex_dummy_auth_file(
+    path: Path,
+    host_env: dict[str, str] | None = None,
+    *,
+    now: datetime | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    path.write_text(codex_dummy_auth_json(host_env, now=now))
+    path.chmod(0o600)
+
+
+def _read_auth_object(path: Path) -> dict:
+    try:
+        raw = json.loads(path.read_text())
+    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError) as e:
+        die(f"codex host credentials: could not read valid JSON at {path}: {e}")
+    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+        die(f"codex host credentials: {path} must contain a JSON object")
+    return raw
+
+
+def _dummy_jwt(now: datetime | None = None) -> str:
+    check_now = now or datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    exp = int(check_now.timestamp()) + 3600
+
+    def enc(obj: dict) -> str:
+        raw = json.dumps(obj, separators=(",", ":")).encode()
+        return base64.urlsafe_b64encode(raw).decode().rstrip("=")
+
+    return (
+        f"{enc({'alg': 'none', 'typ': 'JWT'})}."
+        f"{enc({'exp': exp, 'sub': 'bot-bottle-placeholder'})}."
+        "placeholder"
+    )
+
+
+def _redact_codex_auth(value: object, *, now: datetime | None = None) -> object:
+    if isinstance(value, dict):
+        out: dict[str, object] = {}
+        for key, inner in value.items():
+            lower = key.lower()
+            if lower == "openai_api_key":
+                out[key] = None
+            elif lower == "tokens":
+                out[key] = _redact_codex_auth(inner, now=now)
+            elif lower in {"access_token", "id_token"}:
+                out[key] = _dummy_jwt(now)
+            elif "token" in lower or "secret" in lower or lower.endswith("_key"):
+                out[key] = "bot-bottle-placeholder"
+            elif lower in {"account_id", "user_id", "email"}:
+                out[key] = "bot-bottle-placeholder"
+            else:
+                out[key] = _redact_codex_auth(inner, now=now)
+        return out
+    if isinstance(value, list):
+        return [_redact_codex_auth(v, now=now) for v in value]
+    return value
+
+
 def _jwt_exp(token: str) -> datetime | None:
     parts = token.split(".")
     if len(parts) < 2:
@@ -93,4 +163,9 @@ def _b64url_decode(value: str) -> str:
     return base64.urlsafe_b64decode(padded.encode("ascii")).decode("utf-8")
 
 
-__all__ = ["codex_auth_path", "codex_host_access_token"]
+__all__ = [
+    "codex_auth_path",
+    "codex_dummy_auth_json",
+    "codex_host_access_token",
+    "write_codex_dummy_auth_file",
+]

docs/prds/0029-codex-host-credentials-egress.md

@@ -21,10 +21,11 @@ routes that declare an egress-owned token. Bare `api.openai.com` or
 `chatgpt.com` routes therefore forward Codex requests without the
 ChatGPT bearer token.
 
-Copying `~/.codex/auth.json` into the agent would solve auth but would
+Copying the host `~/.codex/auth.json` into the agent would solve auth
-also put access and refresh material inside the agent sandbox. That cuts
+mode detection but would also put access and refresh material inside the
-against bot-bottle's credential minimization model: provider credentials
+agent sandbox. That cuts against bot-bottle's credential minimization
-should live in the sidecar boundary when possible, not in the agent.
+model: provider credentials should live in the sidecar boundary when
+possible, not in the agent.
 
 ## Goals / Success Criteria
 
@@ -33,11 +34,14 @@ should live in the sidecar boundary when possible, not in the agent.
 - Host credential forwarding happens only when the bottle declares
   `agent_provider.forward_host_credentials: true`.
 - The agent container does not receive `OPENAI_API_KEY`,
-  `CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN`, `tokens.access_token`, `tokens.refresh_token`,
+  `CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN`, or real `tokens.access_token` /
-  or `auth.json`.
+  `tokens.refresh_token` values.
+- The agent container receives only a dummy Codex `auth.json` that
+  preserves the host auth-mode shape and replaces credential values
+  with placeholders.
 - Egress route files remain non-secret: they contain only host/path/auth
   slot metadata, never token values.
-- Missing, non-ChatGPT, malformed, or expired host Codex auth fails
+- Missing, API-key, malformed, or expired host Codex auth fails
   launch with a clear operator-facing message.
 - Existing Claude OAuth placeholder behavior remains unchanged.
 
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ should live in the sidecar boundary when possible, not in the agent.
 - Refreshing Codex tokens in the sidecar. The first cut reads the host's
   current access token at launch; operators can restart after host Codex
   refreshes auth.
-- Copying host `~/.codex/auth.json` into the agent.
+- Copying host `~/.codex/auth.json` credentials into the agent.
 - Allowing arbitrary host credential forwarding. This PRD covers Codex
   ChatGPT/device-login credentials only.
 - Hot-applying new authenticated Codex routes to an existing running
@@ -62,9 +66,11 @@ should live in the sidecar boundary when possible, not in the agent.
 - Support the flag for `agent_provider.template: codex`.
 - Read host Codex auth from `$CODEX_HOME/auth.json` when `CODEX_HOME` is
   set, otherwise from `~/.codex/auth.json`.
-- Extract only `tokens.access_token`.
+- Extract only `tokens.access_token` for egress injection.
-- Validate that `auth_mode` is `chatgpt` and the access token is present,
+- Generate a dummy agent-side `auth.json` from the host auth file's
-  JWT-shaped, and not expired.
+  mode and key shape, without copying real token values.
+- Validate that host auth is not API-key mode and the access token is
+  present, JWT-shaped, and not expired.
 - Add or upgrade `api.openai.com` and `chatgpt.com` egress routes to
   inject that access token via a shared `EGRESS_TOKEN_N` sidecar env
   slot.
@@ -100,7 +106,7 @@ At prepare/launch time, when the flag is enabled for Codex:
 1. Resolve the host Codex home directory from `$CODEX_HOME`, falling
    back to `~/.codex`.
 2. Parse `auth.json`.
-3. Require `auth_mode == "chatgpt"`.
+3. Require user/device auth mode rather than API-key auth.
 4. Require a non-empty `tokens.access_token`.
 5. Parse the JWT payload enough to require an `exp` claim in the future.
 6. Return only the access token value to the launch path.
@@ -141,6 +147,7 @@ environment for that `EGRESS_TOKEN_N` slot. It must not be written to
 flowchart LR
     H["Host ~/.codex/auth.json"] --> L["bot-bottle launch"]
     L -->|access token only| S["egress sidecar env"]
+    L -->|dummy auth.json only| A
     A["Codex agent"] -->|HTTPS via proxy, auth stripped| E["egress"]
     E -->|Bearer injected from env| C["api.openai.com / chatgpt.com"]
 ```
@@ -156,9 +163,12 @@ flowchart LR
 4. **Effective egress route.** Add/upgrade the Codex API routes when the
    flag is enabled, and add tests for bare route upgrade,
    missing-route insertion, and authenticated-route conflict.
-5. **Launch wiring.** Pass the host access token into the egress sidecar
+5. **Agent auth marker.** Provision a dummy Codex `auth.json` into the
+   agent home so Codex selects the host's user/device auth branch while
+   real credentials stay in egress.
+6. **Launch wiring.** Pass the host access token into the egress sidecar
    env for Docker and smolmachines without exposing it to the agent.
-6. **Docs and tests.** Update README examples and run the unit suite.
+7. **Docs and tests.** Update README examples and run the unit suite.
 
 ## Open questions
 

tests/unit/test_codex_auth.py

@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ import unittest
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from bot_bottle.codex_auth import codex_auth_path, codex_host_access_token
+from bot_bottle.codex_auth import (
+    codex_auth_path,
+    codex_dummy_auth_json,
+    codex_host_access_token,
+)
 from bot_bottle.log import Die
 
 
@@ -59,6 +63,15 @@ class TestCodexHostAccessToken(unittest.TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(Die):
             codex_host_access_token({"CODEX_HOME": str(self.home)})
 
+    def test_user_auth_mode_is_allowed(self):
+        token = _jwt(2000000000)
+        self._write({"auth_mode": "user", "tokens": {"access_token": token}})
+        out = codex_host_access_token(
+            {"CODEX_HOME": str(self.home)},
+            now=datetime(2026, 1, 1, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(token, out)
+
     def test_expired_token_dies(self):
         self._write({
             "auth_mode": "chatgpt",
@@ -78,6 +91,37 @@ class TestCodexHostAccessToken(unittest.TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(Die):
             codex_host_access_token({"CODEX_HOME": str(self.home)})
 
+    def test_dummy_auth_preserves_mode_and_redacts_tokens(self):
+        access = _jwt(2000000000)
+        refresh = "host-refresh-token"
+        self._write({
+            "auth_mode": "chatgpt",
+            "OPENAI_API_KEY": None,
+            "tokens": {
+                "access_token": access,
+                "id_token": _jwt(2000000000),
+                "refresh_token": refresh,
+                "account_id": "acct-host",
+            },
+            "last_refresh": "2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z",
+        })
+        dummy = json.loads(codex_dummy_auth_json(
+            {"CODEX_HOME": str(self.home)},
+            now=datetime(2026, 1, 1, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
+        ))
+        self.assertEqual("chatgpt", dummy["auth_mode"])
+        self.assertIsNone(dummy["OPENAI_API_KEY"])
+        self.assertNotEqual(access, dummy["tokens"]["access_token"])
+        self.assertNotEqual(refresh, dummy["tokens"]["refresh_token"])
+        self.assertEqual("bot-bottle-placeholder", dummy["tokens"]["refresh_token"])
+        self.assertEqual("bot-bottle-placeholder", dummy["tokens"]["account_id"])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(
+            codex_host_access_token(
+                {"CODEX_HOME": str(self.home)},
+                now=datetime(2026, 1, 1, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
+            )
+        )
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/unit/test_docker_provision_provider_auth.py

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+"""Unit: docker provider auth marker provisioning."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from bot_bottle.backend import BottleSpec
+from bot_bottle.backend.docker.bottle_plan import DockerBottlePlan
+from bot_bottle.backend.docker.provision import provider_auth as _provider_auth
+from bot_bottle.egress import EgressPlan
+from bot_bottle.git_gate import GitGatePlan
+from bot_bottle.manifest import Manifest
+from bot_bottle.pipelock import PipelockProxyPlan
+
+
+def _plan(*, codex_auth_file: Path | None = None) -> DockerBottlePlan:
+    manifest = Manifest.from_json_obj({
+        "bottles": {"dev": {"agent_provider": {"template": "codex"}}},
+        "agents": {"demo": {"skills": [], "prompt": "", "bottle": "dev"}},
+    })
+    return DockerBottlePlan(
+        spec=BottleSpec(
+            manifest=manifest,
+            agent_name="demo",
+            copy_cwd=False,
+            user_cwd="/tmp/x",
+        ),
+        stage_dir=Path("/tmp/stage"),
+        slug="demo-abc12",
+        container_name="bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+        container_name_pinned=False,
+        image="bot-bottle-codex:latest",
+        derived_image="",
+        runtime_image="bot-bottle-codex:latest",
+        dockerfile_path="",
+        env_file=Path("/tmp/agent.env"),
+        forwarded_env={},
+        prompt_file=Path("/tmp/prompt.txt"),
+        proxy_plan=PipelockProxyPlan(
+            yaml_path=Path("/tmp/pipelock.yaml"),
+            slug="demo-abc12",
+        ),
+        git_gate_plan=GitGatePlan(
+            slug="demo-abc12",
+            entrypoint_script=Path("/tmp/git-gate-entrypoint.sh"),
+            hook_script=Path("/tmp/git-gate-hook"),
+            access_hook_script=Path("/tmp/git-gate-access-hook"),
+            upstreams=(),
+        ),
+        egress_plan=EgressPlan(
+            slug="demo-abc12",
+            routes_path=Path("/tmp/routes.yaml"),
+            routes=(),
+            token_env_map={},
+        ),
+        supervise_plan=None,
+        use_runsc=False,
+        agent_command="codex",
+        agent_provider_template="codex",
+        codex_auth_file=codex_auth_file,
+    )
+
+
+class TestProvisionProviderAuth(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_noop_without_codex_auth_file(self):
+        with patch.object(_provider_auth.subprocess, "run") as run:
+            _provider_auth.provision_provider_auth(
+                _plan(), "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(0, run.call_count)
+
+    def test_copies_dummy_auth_json_to_codex_home(self):
+        with patch.object(_provider_auth.subprocess, "run") as run:
+            _provider_auth.provision_provider_auth(
+                _plan(codex_auth_file=Path("/tmp/codex-auth.json")),
+                "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+            )
+        argvs = [call.args[0] for call in run.call_args_list]
+        self.assertIn(
+            ["docker", "exec", "-u", "0", "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+             "mkdir", "-p", "/home/node/.codex"],
+            argvs,
+        )
+        self.assertIn(
+            ["docker", "cp", "/tmp/codex-auth.json",
+             "bot-bottle-demo-abc12:/home/node/.codex/auth.json"],
+            argvs,
+        )
+        self.assertIn(
+            ["docker", "exec", "-u", "0", "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+             "chown", "node:node", "/home/node/.codex/auth.json"],
+            argvs,
+        )
+        self.assertIn(
+            ["docker", "exec", "-u", "0", "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+             "chmod", "600", "/home/node/.codex/auth.json"],
+            argvs,
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/unit/test_smolmachines_provision.py

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from bot_bottle.backend.smolmachines.provision import (
     ca as _ca,
     git as _git,
     prompt as _prompt,
+    provider_auth as _provider_auth,
     skills as _skills,
     supervise as _supervise,
 )
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ def _plan(
     bundle_ip: str = "192.168.50.2",
     agent_git_gate_host: str = "127.0.0.1:55555",
     agent_supervise_url: str = "http://127.0.0.1:55556/",
+    codex_auth_file: Path | None = None,
 ) -> SmolmachinesBottlePlan:
     bottle_json: dict = {}
     git_json: dict = {}
@@ -129,6 +131,7 @@ def _plan(
         supervise_plan=supervise_plan,
         agent_git_gate_host=agent_git_gate_host,
         agent_supervise_url=agent_supervise_url,
+        codex_auth_file=codex_auth_file,
     )
 
 
@@ -189,6 +192,42 @@ class TestProvisionPrompt(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
 
+class TestProvisionProviderAuth(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_noop_without_codex_auth_file(self):
+        with patch(
+            "bot_bottle.backend.smolmachines.provision.provider_auth._smolvm.machine_cp"
+        ) as cp, patch(
+            "bot_bottle.backend.smolmachines.provision.provider_auth._smolvm.machine_exec"
+        ) as ex:
+            _provider_auth.provision_provider_auth(
+                _plan(), "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(0, cp.call_count)
+        self.assertEqual(0, ex.call_count)
+
+    def test_copies_dummy_auth_json_to_codex_home(self):
+        with patch(
+            "bot_bottle.backend.smolmachines.provision.provider_auth._smolvm.machine_cp"
+        ) as cp, patch(
+            "bot_bottle.backend.smolmachines.provision.provider_auth._smolvm.machine_exec"
+        ) as ex:
+            _provider_auth.provision_provider_auth(
+                _plan(codex_auth_file=Path("/tmp/codex-auth.json")),
+                "bot-bottle-demo-abc12",
+            )
+        cp.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/tmp/codex-auth.json",
+            "bot-bottle-demo-abc12:/home/node/.codex/auth.json",
+        )
+        argv_seen = [call.args[1] for call in ex.call_args_list]
+        self.assertIn(["mkdir", "-p", "/home/node/.codex"], argv_seen)
+        self.assertIn(
+            ["chown", "node:node", "/home/node/.codex/auth.json"],
+            argv_seen,
+        )
+        self.assertIn(["chmod", "600", "/home/node/.codex/auth.json"], argv_seen)
+
+
 class TestProvisionSkills(unittest.TestCase):
     def _patch_host_skill_dir(self, returns: dict[str, str]):
         return patch(